Case StudyKMF's Workplace Canteen

About KMF

KMF is the market leader in the supply of precision sheet metal fabrication and engineering solutions with factories based in both the UK and Slovakia. Formed in 1971, KMF is still under the management of its founding directors and has grown into one of the largest and most successful sheet metal manufacturing and engineering plants in the UK.

The Story

KMF’s operations in the UK are based in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, with over 400 staff and operate 24 hours, seven-days-a-week. As an employer KMF recognise the huge contribution that their staff make towards the success of their business and are always looking for new ways in which to improve their working environment and morale.

With so many employees working out of one site, KMF’s management team recognised that they needed to upgrade their existing staff canteen facilities to create a more modern environment and a space where staff from all levels of the business could come together.

The Totally Delicious Concept

Having already undertaken similar projects, where we have transformed workplace canteens in similar sized businesses such as Steelite International and Portmeirion, KMF’s management team were able to see real examples of the benefits to staff such an approach can make.

The Totally Delicious Team worked in partnership with KMF right from the initial planning stages, through to providing the designs and managing the install. Our team were able to provide our expert knowledge and insight to the project, this included providing vital input into KMF’s plans for a new extension to accommodate the staff canteen. We created bespoke plans for the new staff canteen, designed the interior, layout and infrastructure and sourced all canteen equipment, furniture and fittings.

One of the key benefits of the Totally Delicious concept is that once the new canteen install is complete, we then provide a totally managed service. This means that we organise the day to day running of the canteen, from managing canteen staff on site, recruiting new staff where needed, delivering training and providing cover for sickness and holiday.

As KMF already had their own canteen staff in place, they transferred over to join the Totally Delicious team.

We understand that providing the right menu choices for your employees is important, which is why we make our menus as varied as possible.

We introduced our grab and go concept which caters for all with a variety of sandwiches, baguettes and paninis as well as healthy salads and fruit pots. Alongside our grab and go options, we serve a hearty cooked breakfast and a variety of hot lunches that are changed regularly, to give employees new choices. We have various themed meal days including Curry Thursday and American Friday, which are incredibly popular and allow staff to customise their own meals. All our meal options are incredibly good value, meeting the needs of employees who are looking for great food at a great price.

And the journey of course doesn’t end there. We have regular communications with the KMF team to review the canteens progress and to suggest any changes that are needed. This year, we have already launched two new menus and the feedback we have received from both the management team and their employees is fantastic!

Why it Works

We believe that the secret to the success of the Totally Delicious concept, is the relationship that we establish with our clients. We spend considerable time in getting to understand each of our customer’s individual needs and we design a canteen solution that is right for them. Because while each of our canteens are developed with the same philosophy of providing a contemporary and relaxed environment for staff to enjoy, eat and spend time together in, each canteen is actually unique to the business and staff that they serve.

The Result

Here’s what Gareth Higgins, Managing Director at KMF, had to say about Totally Delicious and their new staff canteen…

“We came across Totally Delicious as they are a well-known brand locally. We went along to see a few of their workplace canteens and were really impressed with what they do, the style of food, the way they work and the infrastructure they have.

We have worked with them for one year and it has been an excellent partnership.

The feedback we have had from staff has been excellent. Communication within the business has improved drastically and people who have never sat together before are walking into the canteen and finding a space and sitting together, which has been fantastic.

The culture within the business has also changed. The old canteen wasn’t a pleasant place to spend time, whereas the Totally Delicious canteen has a brilliant environment.

I would thoroughly recommend Totally Delicious to other businesses. They are a fantastic team to work with. They listen to our needs and requirements and they have absolutely delivered on their promise.”